Consequences Poem by Robert Melliard

Recently I have been thinking (probably too much)
about the ultimate, unknown consequences
of so many actions.

I remember bad advice I gave
to my friends or children,
and wonder how it bent their lives.

I remember giving away puppies
to perfect strangers
with no guarantee they would be looked after.

But above all my mind returns
to the deadly hours, those in which
I tried to save my brother from depression
with my feeble words, and failed.

So sometimes I wonder if it would be better
to do nothing and say nothing
which might affect others.